I found this historic photograph on the internet a few days ago.
One of my personal happy childhood memories growing up in Chicago during the 1960's and early 1970's, were the occasional family visits to the Children's Bargain Town" toy store located at the southeast corner of West 63rd Street and South Cicero Avenue, in Chicago's Westlawn neighborhood.
Every shopping trip here, included watching the airplanes take off and land at Midway Airport across the street. Fun and very inexpensive family entertainment for parents with little children back in the day.
The Children's Bargain Town store chain fell on hard economic times by the early 1970's, and was bought out by the mega Toys R Us" franchise stores. Toys R Us moved to Burbank Illinois further south on South Cicero Avenue, and the old Children's Bargain Town would later become various wholesale establishments over the passing of years.
This building is still standing here today, at the location where Chicago's Westlawn and Clearing neighborhoods border each other.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
children's bargain town 1970
A westbound Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe freight train crossing South Lawndale Avenue. Mc Cook Illinois. November 1989.
A westbound Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe freight train crossing South Lawndale Avenue. Mc Cook Illinois. November 1989., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
I took this photograph one Sunday afternoon while I was riding my 12 speed mountain bike, way back in November of 1989.
A westbound Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe freight train, is viewed crossing South Lawndale Avenue, in west suburban Mc Cook Illinois near sunset.
The 1970's era orange and white Illinois Central color scheme. Introduced by the Illinois Central in 1967 to help modernize their image. Photographed at the Oak Park Society Of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club. Oak Park Illinois. May 2013.
The 1970's era orange and white Illinois Central color scheme. Introduced by the Illinois Central in 1967 to help modernize their image. Photographed at the Oak Park Society Of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club. Oak Park Illinois. May 2013., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
One of my favorite railroad color schemes I enjoyed seeing when I was growing up in Chicago during the late 1960's and through out the 1970's, was the orange and white introduced on the Illinois Central Railroad's diesel locomotives in 1967, and utilized by the post 1972 succesor railroad Illinois Central Gulf.
These models were photographed at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois.
Just seeing these in miniature, brought back some happy memories for me when I was growing up on the near southwest side of Chicago back in the day.
The Mach 5 race car from the movie "Speed Racer". The Volo Auto Museum. Volo Illinois. June 2013.
The Mach 5 race car from the movie "Speed Racer". The Volo Auto Museum. Volo Illinois. June 2013., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
I took this photograph during a recent June 2013 visit to the Volo Auto Museum, located in the town of Volo Illinois.
One of my favorite memories from when I was growing up in Chicago, was watching the "Speed Racer" cartoons when I would come home from school circa 1972. I seem to recall that they were aired in the late weekday afternoons, on Channel 32 W.F.L.D TV in Chicago. It was one of my favorites back then.
Seen here is a replica of the famous "Mach 5 "race car, used in the movie "Speed Racer" which was out in the theatres about five years ago.
Remember the cartoon theme song?
"Go speed ra-cer . Go speed ra-cer.
Go speed ra-cer Go-oooo."
Riding aboard Chicago Surface Lines electric streetcar # 144 at the Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois. 1983.
Riding aboard Chicago Surface Lines electric streetcar # 144 at the Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois. 1983., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
I took this photograph, way back in 1983.
Several museum patrons, are enjoying a ride aboard Chicago Surface Lines electric streetcar # 144, at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union Illinois. www.irm.org
CSL car # 144, was built by the Pulman Standard Car Company of Chicago in 1908.
This photograph shows how it was like riding inside these classic city streetcars.
Car # 144 was operating on the"New" museum trolley loop, which was constructed during the early 1980's.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
Monday, August 19, 2013
San Diego California MTS / Metropolitan Transit system bus making a stop on Nimitz Boulevard in Point Loma California. June 2013.
San Diego California MTS / Metropolitan Transit system bus making a stop on Nimitz Boulevard in Point Loma California. June 2013., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
I took this photograph during my recent June 2013 vacation to San Diego California.
A transit bus from the San Diego MTS / Metropolitan Transit System, is viewed arriving at a bus stop on Nimitz Boulevard, in the neighboring suburban town of Point Loma California.
Preserved CTA 1951 Marmon Herrington electric trolley bus. The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois. August 2006.
Preserved CTA 1951 Marmon Herrington electric trolley bus. The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois. August 2006., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
One of my favorite operating exhibits at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union Illinois, are the two preserved 1951 Chicago Transit Authority electric trolley buses.
I grew up riding these on the CTA Rt # 52 / Kedzie -California bus line during the 1960's.
It's nice to know that some of my childhood bus riding memories from Chicago, are alive and well today.
Silent Digital Video: Two westbound CTA buses on West Devon Avenue. Chicago Illinois. June 2007.
Silent Digital Video: Two westbound CTA buses on West Devon Avenue. Chicago Illinois. June 2007. a video by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
I photographed this silent digital video with my old camera one hot summer day, back in June of 2007.
Two westbound Chicago Transit Authority buses, are viewed at the intersection of West Devon and North Glenwood Avenue, in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood on the far north side of the city.
The wheelchair lift is lowered at a wheelchair passengers residence. Skokie Illinois. Early March 2008.
The wheelchair lift is lowered at a wheelchair passengers residence. Skokie Illinois. Early March 2008., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
I took this photograph during my first year of employment as a paratransit driver.
I was waiting at a passenger pick up in north suburban Skokie Illinois, and I thought that I would demonstrate how the old 2001 Ford mini bus looked like with the wheelchair lift lowered.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
A lighted neon Coca Cola sign. The Volo Auto Museum. Volo Illinois. June 2013.
A lighted neon Coca Cola sign. The Volo Auto Museum. Volo Illinois. June 2013., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
Hi everyone!
This is Eddie K, your host and photographer here at Eddie's Railfan Page.
My lovely wife Cheryl and I made a one day trip to the Volo Auto Museum, back in June of this year. Aside from their fine collection of vintage automobiles, the museum also has an amazing collection of vintage advertising signs from America's past as well.
The 2 foot narrow guage Brookfield, Salt Creek & Western Railroad train opeating at Chicago's Brookfield Zoo. Brookfield Illinois. October 1984.
The 2 foot narrow guage Brookfield, Salt Creek & Western Railroad train opeating at Chicago's Brookfield Zoo. Brookfield Illinois. October 1984., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
I took this photograph, way back in October of 1984.
From 1967 until 1985, Chicago's Brookfield Zoo once featured this mostly steam powered 2 foot narrow guage railroad, that circled the out perimeter of the zoo in a counter clockwise rotation.
The train has just left the north boarding station, and is viewed now heading westbound alongside the north walking path.
The Brookfield Zoo train is preserved today, at the Hesston Steam Museum nea Michigan City Indiana. www.hesston.org
Santa Fe freight train passes with a red caboose on the rear.
Santa Fe freight train passes with a red caboose on the rear., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
I took this photograph, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois.
I have been a lifelong fan of the former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, and now I model it in H.O Scale.
A full sizes replica of "Tow Mater" from the Walt Disney / Pixar Studios animated movie "Cars". The Volo Auto Museum. Volo Illinois. June 2013.
A full sizes replica of "Tow Mater" from the Walt Disney / Pixar Studios animated movie "Cars". The Volo Auto Museum. Volo Illinois. June 2013., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
I took this photograph during my recent June 2013 visit to the Volo Auto Museum, located in the town of Volo Illinois.
A display that is bound to please many children, is this full sized mock up replica, of the cartoon tow truck character "Tow -Mater", from the Walt Disney / Pixar Studios animated movie "Cars".
In the movie, Tow Mater's character was voiced by country comedian "Larry The Cable Guy".
The Fairview Avenue Metra commuter rail station. Westmont Illinois. November 1989.
The Fairview Avenue Metra commuter rail station. Westmont Illinois. November 1989., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
I took this photograph while I was out enjoying a pleasant Sunday afternoon bicycle ride, way back in early November of 1989.
Seen here is the unique barn shaped Metra, Fairview Avenue commuter rail station, located in west suburban Westmont Illinois.
CSX Transportation Company West 16th Street industrial switching local at work. Cicero Illinois. September 2006.
CSX Transportation Company West 16th Street industrial switching local at work. Cicero Illinois. September 2006., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
I took this photograph back in September of 2006.
The CSX Transportation Company's West 16th Street branchline local, is photographed near South Laramie Avenue in west suburban Cicero Illinois.